updated 1:01 a.m. ET Aug. 15, 2004

THESSALONIKI, Greece - In the first half, the U.S. women’s soccer team was pushed around by a Brazilian squad that had more hustle, speed and creativity.

In the second half, the Americans pushed back.

The Brazilian coach called it dirty soccer. The American coach called it proactive soccer. Regardless, Brazil ultimately had no answer for scoring machine Abby Wambach, whose souvenirs included a ripped jersey, a cut on her side, a goal created and a goal scored in Saturday’s 2-0 victory in the first round of the Olympic tournament.

“Brazil came with a gusto in the first half that we didn’t have,” coach April Heinrichs said. “And we responded. I like the way we responded.”

Wambach drew the foul that set up Mia Hamm’s penalty kick in the 58th minute and sliced through two defenders to score on a thrilling run in the 77th — her 16th goal in 17 games. For good measure, she also received her second yellow card in two games, giving her an automatic suspension for Tuesday’s final first-round match against Australia.

“She could’ve got rattled after that yellow card, knowing she was going to have to sit for the third game,” Hamm said. “But what she decided was that she was going to give us everything she had.”

The victory secures a U.S. berth in the quarterfinals, although that’s hardly an achievement given that eight of the 10 in the Olympic tournament will advance. The Americans can clinch their group — and the high seeding that goes along with it — with a win or a tie against Australia.

Luca Bruno / AP Brazil's forward Cristiane challenges for the ball with Cat Reddick in the first half of the women's group G soccer match.

But the Americans were the first to concede they should have been trailing the Brazilians by at least two goals at halftime. Brazil went to the locker room with several close calls — including two shots that hit the frame — and nothing on the scoreboard.

“Our players responded to the first half by self-evaluating and saying, ‘Look, we have to bring mentality, decisiveness and a little more bite in our tackles,’ “ Heinrichs said.

The “little more bite” agitated Brazil coach Rene Simoes. He said the Americans played a “very dirty game” in the second half and accused them of deliberately fouling his players.

“They come in the second half to really go against the player, not to go at the ball, and the referee allowed that,” Simoes said.

Simoes cited five injuries, including two that required hospitalization. Kelly broke her collar bone and is done for the tournament. Elaine was treated and released for an injury to her midsection. Marta, Monica and Formiga all had swollen ankles, the coach said.

“My doctors worked more than me,” Simoes said.

The Americans denied they were too rough, saying the Brazilians may have played even rougher. The official statistics listed 17 fouls committed by Brazil, 11 by the United States. Heinrichs said she told her players at halftime to be “more proactive” in their play, but she did not tell them to foul intentionally.

“I think we’re one of the cleanest teams in the world. ... We’re talking about something I don’t think happened,” Heinrichs said. “We’re spending an awful lot of time on somebody’s rant.”

Wambach, who bore the most battle scars among the American players, agreed.

“It makes me laugh,” Wambach said. “Because when you play against a team that, every play, they’re shoving in your back, they’re forearming you, they’re grabbing your head on every corner. ... Brazil, they bring it as much as they think we do. But that’s part of their game.”

The Americans got on the scoreboard when Wambach, chasing a pass from Julie Foudy, was shoved by Monica in the corner of the penalty area. Hamm stroked the penalty into the bottom right corner of the net for her 153rd career goal.

That energized the Americans, who played on par with the Brazilians for the rest of the match. The final highlight came when Wambach threaded defenders Monica and Juliana along the right flank and then put a left-footed 12-yard shot just inside the near post.

“We all know, based on the way we played in the first half, how fortunate we were in the second half,” Hamm said. “Regardless of our performance in the first half, we didn’t give up.”

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